A leading Tamworth obstetrician has said the city’s Community Midwife Program going into hiatus will “put extra stress on all staff” at the hospital maternity ward.
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The program, designed to reduce caesareans and interventions, will no longer be accepting new mothers due to staff shortages.
Head Doctor of Obstetrics for the program, Keith Hollebone, said it will return to full function once vacant positions are filled, although he could not shed any light on how staffing levels had dwindled to crisis levels without a job advertisment going out.
“It is a very, very good program that provides continuity of care – which is difficult in the public system,” Dr Hollebone said. “At the moment we don’t have the people to do the job properly or safely, but I can’t tell you why they haven’t been recruiting staff.”
Hunter New England Health also did not provide answers to questions put to them on why vacant jobs had not been filled.
Currently there are only three midwives in the program, half of the six full time equivalent roles that it was designed for.
Tamworth Hospital general manager, Catharine Death, said on Monday they “are unable to accept new women into this program while we recruit to vacant positions”, although The Leader understands that no new roles have been advertised for at least six months.
Local mother Ashlee Hampstead had her first child just three weeks ago and feels sorry for new mums who will no longer be able to access the service.
“My midwife was going on holidays for a month, and said I might be the last delivery that she ever does in the program,” Mrs Hampstead said. “I can’t believe they haven’t put more money into this to stay open.”
Tamara Gasson and Kristie Tremain are in a 28-member mother’s group, of which “at least a third came through the program”.
They also said they can’t understand how it was allowed to get to a point where local mother’s “are missing out on the best service”.
“Having the same midwife support me made such a difference – I felt safer and was home quicker,” Mrs Gasson said. It makes a public service into a private experience. I feel sorry for new mums that won’t be able to use it.”